{ "id": "RS21232", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RS21232", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 592866, "date": "2019-03-04", "retrieved": "2019-12-20T19:50:21.738042", "title": "Grazing Fees: Overview and Issues", "summary": "Charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, whereas conservation groups believe fees should be increased. The current formula for determining the grazing fee for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) was established in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (PRIA) and continued by a 1986 executive order issued by President Reagan. The fee is based on grazing of a specified number of animals for one month, known as an animal unit month (AUM). The fee is set annually under a formula that uses a base value per AUM. The base value is adjusted by three factors\u2014the lease rates for grazing on private lands, beef cattle prices, and the cost of livestock production. \nFor 2019, BLM and FS are charging a grazing fee of $1.35 per AUM. This fee is in effect from March 1, 2019, through February 29, 2020, and is the minimum allowed. Since 1981, when BLM and FS began charging the same grazing fee, the fee has ranged from $1.35 per AUM (for about half the years) to $2.31 per AUM (for 1981). The average fee during the period was $1.55 per AUM. In recent decades, grazing fee reform has occasionally been considered by Congress or proposed by the President, but no fee changes have been adopted. \nThe grazing fees collected by each agency essentially are divided between the agency, Treasury, and states/localities. The agency portion is deposited in a range betterment fund in the Treasury and is subject to appropriation by Congress. The agencies use these funds for on-the-ground activities, such as range rehabilitation and fence construction. Under law, BLM and FS allocate the remaining collections differently between the Treasury and states/localities. \nIssues for Congress include whether to retain the current grazing fee or alter the charges for grazing on federal lands. The current BLM and FS grazing fee is generally lower than fees charged for grazing on state and private lands. Comparing the BLM and FS fee with state and private fees is complicated, due to factors including the purposes for which fees are charged, the quality of the resources on the lands being grazed, and whether the federal grazing fee alone or other nonfee costs are considered. \nUnauthorized grazing occurs on BLM and FS lands in a variety of ways, including when cattle graze outside the allowed areas or seasons or in larger numbers than allowed under permit. In some cases, livestock owners have intentionally grazed cattle on federal land without getting a permit or paying the required fee. The agencies have responded at times by fining the owners, as well as by impounding and selling the trespassing cattle. BLM continues to seek a judicial resolution to a long-standing controversy involving cattle grazed by Cliven Bundy on lands in Nevada. \nThere have been efforts to end livestock grazing in specific areas through voluntary retirement of permits and leases and subsequent closure of the allotments to grazing. Congress has enacted some such proposals. Congress also has considered measures to reduce or end grazing in specified states or to allow a maximum number of permits to be waived yearly. Among other reasons, such measures have been supported to protect range resources but opposed as diminishing ranching operations. \nAnother issue involves expiring grazing permits. Both BLM and FS have a backlog of permits needing evaluation for renewal. To allow for continuity in grazing operations, P.L. 113-291 made permanent the automatic renewal (until the evaluation process is complete) of permits and leases that expire or are transferred. The law provided that the issuance of a grazing permit \u201cmay\u201d be categorically excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) under certain conditions. NEPA categorical exclusions have been controversial.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS21232", "sha1": "857bd5ff6396490cc9c2595a9f0a533d0a69816e", "filename": "files/20190304_RS21232_857bd5ff6396490cc9c2595a9f0a533d0a69816e.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=RS/html/RS21232_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190304_RS21232_images_b9ef4a81dcb966c8897bd472eb10f88200679bfd.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=RS/html/RS21232_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190304_RS21232_images_27f735fb8e064aa377139ba828c624ad6af51647.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=RS/html/RS21232_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190304_RS21232_images_6b2faffe589b1b4b9f6b87c3ec0b8f2502e78d36.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21232", "sha1": "a689f8cb4ae4dacfbf25db6e4edaf85901dd225e", "filename": "files/20190304_RS21232_a689f8cb4ae4dacfbf25db6e4edaf85901dd225e.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4841, "name": "Federal Land Management" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 456298, "date": "2016-09-29", "retrieved": "2016-11-28T21:29:58.484166", "title": "Grazing Fees: Overview and Issues", "summary": "Charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, while conservation groups believe fees should be increased. The formula for determining the grazing fee for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) uses a base value adjusted annually by the lease rates for grazing on private lands, beef cattle prices, and the cost of livestock production. Currently, the BLM and FS are charging a grazing fee of $2.11 per animal unit month (AUM). For fee purposes, an AUM is defined as a month\u2019s use and occupancy of the range by one animal unit. The fee is in effect through February 28, 2017. The collected fees are divided among the Treasury, states, and federal agencies. \nIssues for Congress include whether to retain the current grazing fee or alter the charges for grazing on federal lands, for instance, through an Administration proposal for an additional administrative fee of $2.50 per AUM. Also, the current BLM and FS grazing fee is generally lower than fees charged for grazing on state and private lands. Comparing the BLM and FS fee with state and private fees is complicated, due to factors including the purposes for which fees are charged, the quality of the resources on the lands being grazed, and whether the federal grazing fee alone or other non-fee costs are considered. \nUnauthorized grazing occurs on BLM and FS lands in a variety of ways, including when cattle graze outside the allowed areas or seasons or in larger numbers than allowed under permit. In some cases livestock owners have intentionally grazed cattle on federal land without getting a permit or paying the required fee. The agencies have responded at times by fining the owners as well as impounding and selling the trespassing cattle. A particularly long-standing controversy involves cattle grazed by Cliven Bundy on certain lands in Nevada. BLM continues to seek to resolve the issue through the judicial process.\nThere have been efforts to end livestock grazing on certain federal lands through voluntary retirement of permits and leases and subsequent closure of the allotments to grazing. Congress has considered measures to end grazing on particular allotments or in specified states, or allowing a maximum number of permits to be waived yearly. Among other reasons, such measures have been supported to protect range resources but opposed as diminishing ranching operations. \nAnother set of issues involves expiring grazing permits. Both BLM and FS have a backlog of permits needing evaluation for renewal. To allow for continuity in grazing operations, P.L. 113-291 made permanent the automatic renewal (until the renewal evaluation process is complete) of grazing permits and leases that expire or are transferred. The law provided that the issuance of a grazing permit \u201cmay\u201d be categorically excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act under certain conditions. Provisions regarding categorical exclusions have been controversial.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS21232", "sha1": "c046bc68dd47e829a5948dbd1ba32af1c1fcd95e", "filename": "files/20160929_RS21232_c046bc68dd47e829a5948dbd1ba32af1c1fcd95e.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21232", "sha1": "b52e04ea00b91486680436e52e5795fea1044398", "filename": "files/20160929_RS21232_b52e04ea00b91486680436e52e5795fea1044398.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4841, "name": "Federal Land Management" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 431936, "date": "2014-06-13", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T20:20:39.127653", "title": "Grazing Fees: Overview and Issues", "summary": "Charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, while conservation groups and others believe fees should be increased. The formula for determining the grazing fee for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) uses a base value adjusted annually by the lease rates for grazing on private lands, beef cattle prices, and the cost of livestock production. Currently, the BLM and FS are charging a grazing fee of $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM). For fee purposes, an AUM is defined as a month\u2019s use and occupancy of the range by one animal unit. The fee is in effect through February 28, 2015. The collected fees are divided among the Treasury, states, and federal agencies. \nIssues for the 113th Congress include whether to retain the current grazing fee or alter the charges for grazing on federal lands, for instance, through an Administration proposal for an additional administrative fee of $1 per AUM. Also, the current BLM and FS grazing fee is generally lower than fees charged for grazing on state and private lands. Comparing the BLM and FS fee with state and private fees is complicated, due to factors including the purposes for which fees are charged, the quality of the resources on the lands being grazed, and whether the federal grazing fee alone or other non-fee costs are considered. \nA small number of livestock owners in some western states have grazed cattle on federal land without getting a permit or paying the required fee. The BLM and FS have responded at times by fining and jailing the owners as well as impounding and selling the trespassing cattle. A particularly long-standing controversy involves cattle grazed on certain lands in Nevada. In April 2014, the BLM and the National Park Service ceased an impoundment of cattle on these lands due to fears of confrontation between private citizens opposed to the roundup and federal law enforcement officials. \nCongress also is evaluating proposals (e.g., H.R. 145, Section 102(e); H.R. 1187, Section 129; H.R. 2489, Section 6; and S. 354, Section 5) to end grazing on particular allotments through the voluntary waiver of the permits and the subsequent closure of the related allotments to grazing. Related bills are broader. For instance, S. 258 would allow a limited number of permits and leases to be relinquished in New Mexico and Oregon, while H.R. 2201 would allow a maximum of 100 waived permits yearly, with the allotments then closed to grazing. \nAnother set of issues involves expiring grazing permits. These issues include whether to (1) continue to automatically renew expiring grazing permits until the permit renewal process is completed, (2) categorically exclude certain permit decisions from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and/or (3) extend the general duration of grazing permits from 10 to 20 years. Provisions on these topics have been included in House and Senate bills (H.R. 657, H.R. 2954 (Title VIII), and S. 258).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS21232", "sha1": "9c53523cbfdb68625bd2e9880cd998d27310c010", "filename": "files/20140613_RS21232_9c53523cbfdb68625bd2e9880cd998d27310c010.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21232", "sha1": "e3c55d189c2b1001f84946e8b2872ead1e662c27", "filename": "files/20140613_RS21232_e3c55d189c2b1001f84946e8b2872ead1e662c27.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 314, "name": "Federal Lands" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc816277/", "id": "RS21232_2012Jun19", "date": "2012-06-19", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Grazing Fees: Overview and Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120619_RS21232_babe6668818e5bfe370e48ec3109422ed61902e7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120619_RS21232_babe6668818e5bfe370e48ec3109422ed61902e7.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc806888/", "id": "RS21232_2009Sep04", "date": "2009-09-04", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Grazing Fees: Overview and Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090904_RS21232_09a49d5ff29a186f5792d940507de0f05813c8bf.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090904_RS21232_09a49d5ff29a186f5792d940507de0f05813c8bf.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc94181/", "id": "RS21232_2008Mar10", "date": "2008-03-10", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Grazing Fees: An Overview and Current Issues", "summary": "This report discusses fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands that is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, while conservation groups and others believe fees should be increased.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080310_RS21232_48d9defb73b94be13ae556397da19650549dc4d1.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080310_RS21232_48d9defb73b94be13ae556397da19650549dc4d1.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agricultural policies", "name": "Agricultural policies" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Farm management", "name": "Farm management" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Grazing", "name": "Grazing" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Cattle", "name": "Cattle" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811166/", "id": "RS21232_2007Jun22", "date": "2007-06-22", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Grazing Fees: An Overview and Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070622_RS21232_1b90c6850ff05f5f4bc04e283feb41c7f2358326.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070622_RS21232_1b90c6850ff05f5f4bc04e283feb41c7f2358326.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818430/", "id": "RS21232_2006May10", "date": "2006-05-10", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Grazing Fees: An Overview and Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060510_RS21232_91dad281cf714b476824880a19b037604b087b21.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060510_RS21232_91dad281cf714b476824880a19b037604b087b21.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs8904/", "id": "RS21232_2005Feb08", "date": "2005-02-08", "retrieved": "2006-07-03T14:39:32", "title": "Grazing Fees: An Overview and Current Issues", "summary": "This report briefly discusses charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands, which is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, while conservation groups and others believe fees should be raised to approximate \"fair market value.\"", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050208_RS21232_f1683de1bd2541d7b270f4f86eab76d5edb8da7a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050208_RS21232_f1683de1bd2541d7b270f4f86eab76d5edb8da7a.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture", "name": "Agriculture" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Grazing", "name": "Grazing" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public lands", "name": "Public lands" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Natural resources", "name": "Natural resources" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy" ] }